Media Advisory: CEEP director available for comment on upcoming Indiana charter school report

Editors: An education research organization at Stanford plans to release a report early next week (week of March 7) that focuses on the performance of Indiana students in charter schools. Jonathan Plucker and the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy have conducted extensive research on charter schools in Indiana and nationwide.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 4, 2011

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Jonathan Plucker, director of the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP) at Indiana University, will be available for comment on the release of a new report regarding the performance of Indiana students in charter schools compared to those in other public schools. The Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University plans to release its Indiana charter school report next week. CREDO has analyzed and published reports on charter school student performance in 16 states.

Plucker and CEEP have conducted extensive research on charters in Indiana and across the country. CEEP conducted an evaluation of the Indianapolis charter schools for the school year 2007-08. Plucker is a co-author of several studies that examine such issues as how well charters promote achievement in math, charter school accountability, services for gifted students, and charter school management.

Numerous bills now before the Indiana General Assembly deal with charter school regulation. There are now 50 charter schools in the state. The first began classes in fall 2002.

About CEEP

CEEP, one of the country's leading nonpartisan education policy and program evaluation centers, promotes and supports rigorous evaluation and research primarily, but not exclusively, for educational, human services and nonprofit organizations. Center projects address state, national and international education questions. CEEP is part of the IU School of Education. To learn more about CEEP, go to http://ceep.indiana.edu.